Drapery support and mounting



1965 D. R. FALKENBERG 3,203,469

DRAPERY SUPPORT AND MOUNTING Filed April 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR DOU6L455 Q. HJLKENBEIZG ATTOENEYE.

31, 1965 D. R. FALKENBERG 3,203,469

DRAPERY SUPPORT AND MOUNTING Filed April 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 38 THE E INVENTOR.

Douemss Q. FAIL/(M55126 ATTOENEY5.

United States Patent 3,203,469 DRAPlERY SUPPORT AND MOUNTING Douglass R. Falkenberg, 20997 Westlake Road, Rocky River, Ohio Filed Apr. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 272,0il3 11 Claims. (Cl. 160-343) This invention relates to drapery fixtures and concerns particularly fixtures for forming and holding folds of draperies, curtains, valances and the like.

While drapery fixtures characterized by a plurality of drapery fold receiving slots and retaining fingers have heretofore been provided for supporting pleated drapery, these have been characterized by two principal problems which are solved by the present invention. It has been usual for the supporting fingers defining the fold or pleat receiving slots to be directed forwardly, i.e. so that the edge defined by the fold is inserted from the forward aspect of the drapery support. This introduces several problems which the structures of this invention overcome. First, insertion of the folds from the front is more difficult because the drape is disposed in front of the holder at the time of insertion of the folds and the final result is obscured necessitating considerably more adjustment than is otherwise required. Secondly, since the slots must, in the prior art devices, be entered from the front aspect as observed from the room or the person installing the drape, the fingers which are not decorative are often visible at the conclusion of installation. Finally, the mounting means for securing the support to the frame has been disposed in a manner to require the slits to open in a direction away from the fastening means.

It has now been found that a drapery support can be produced wherein the fingers and slot openings are rearwardly directed i.e., towards the frame, e.g. the window frame or doorway frame enabling easier installation and control of the drape during installation.

With the devices of the present invention, the drapery supporting means is attached to the wall or frame and to the finger carrying comb or rib in a position where it does not interfere with the drapery material. Thus, it is no longer necessary during installation to pass the drapery material in front of the holder to avoid the holder bracket and support, which simultaneously obscures the fold receiving slots. With the improved devices hereof, the drapery material is passed between the frame and the comb, avoiding the holder bracket and support, and permitting visibility of the slots to the person hanging the drape or valance. Because the openings are rearwardly directed, the finger supporting back, comb or bridge is adapted to have secured thereto as a separate member or an integrally cast member, a decorative surface visible to the viewer in the room which completely obscures the fingers and belies the nature of the device. Finally, by providing the mounting means at one extremity of the drapery support, the fingers do not interfere with the support means, and a more satisfactory suspension of the entire device is obtained which in certain embodiments provides greater flexibility of adjustment.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred form thereof, a fixture is provided comprising a bracket secured to a wall, window or door frame or the like and a valance or drapery former and holder removably and adjustably secured to the bracket. The holder comprises a relatively fiat planar portion formed as a plurality of wide adjacent fingers extending parallel to each other in a common plane and providing parallel slots therebetween adapted to receive the folds of the valance or drapery. Preferably there is a ribbed portion on the holder extending transversely to the flat or planar portion, decorative in form and concealing the fingers which hold the drapery folds. The decorative surface is visible when installed, and the fingers extend rearwardly away from the visible surface defining drapery fold receiving slots which open to the rear. Suitable means are provided for securing the folds in the slots between the fingers, which take the form in one embodiment of the invention of enlarging nibs on the free extremities of the fingers tending to close partially the ends of slots. Preferably also the rib portion of the holder is curved so as to provide a pleasing curved arrangement of the edges of the folds secured by the drapery fixture.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a window provided with a drapery valance supported by drapery fixtures in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken plane view partially in section representing a view of the assembly of FIG. 1 represented as cut by a broken plane 2-2 indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket employed in connection with the drapery fixture of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a fixture illustrated in FIGS.

l and 2 showing the drapery-fold receiving slots, and terminal enlargements at the free ends of the fingers tending to close partially the slots.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fixture of FIG. 4 showing the application of decorative treatment to the fixture.

FIG. 6 is a view of a cross-section of the fixture of FIG. 4 represented as cut by a broken plane 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a view of a cross-section of the fixture of FIG. 4 represented as cut by plane 7-7 indicating FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross-section, illustrating another embodiment of the invention with a splined bracket and socket arrangement for permitting the drapery holder to be mounted at a preselected angle.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawings to designate like parts.

In FIG. 1 a window 11 is ornamented around the edges by a valance or drapery 12 supported by drapery fixtures 13. The fixtures 13 are arranged to form the draperies 12 into the folds shown in FIG. 1 and to hold them secured in the folded positions.

The drapery fixtures 13 each comprise a valance holder and former 14 and a supporting bracket 15.

The holder and former 14 comprises a relatively flat planar, comb or web portion 16 slotted to form a plu rality of relatively wide, parallel fingers 17 spaced to form parallel slots 18 for receiving and holding drapery folds. Preferably the end portions of the fingers 17 are enlarged to form bulges or nubbins 19 partially closing the ends of the slots 18 for slightly compressing a portion of the drapery material for securing the folds in the slots 18.

Although the invention is not limited to a predetermined shape of the edges of the web portion 16, preferably it is concave or sickle shape in order to form the folds 12 into attractive graceful folds having a curving outline 21 as shown in FIG. 2, with successive folds overlapping as shown at 22 in FIG. 2. Furthermore in order to enhance the attractiveness of the drapery holders and formers 14 and increase their strength they are preferably formed with ribs 23 having a lateral dimension, transverse to the web portion 16, considerably greater than the thickness of the web 16 so as to conceal the web or comb portion 16 of the holder 14. Moreover the ribs 23 are preferably in decorative form sculptured and contoured as shown at 24 in FIG. 5 to decorate the points of support of the drapery folds 12 and to conceal the supporting fingers and slots.

Each drapery former and holder 14 is provided with a supporting or base portion 25, suitably formed for adjustable securement on the bracket 15, at one extremity of the supporting comb or web, and extending in the same direction as the fingers l7 and the slot openings 20.

As shown in FIG. 3 the bracket is in the form of an angle bracket composed of suitable materials such as sheet steel bent into the form of a right angle having a base 26 with screw holes 27 for attachment to a door or window frame or casing or wall or other structure surrounding a window such as the window 11 and a horizontally projecting arm portion 28 with a longitudinal adjustment slot 29 centrally thereof.

The base of the drapery former and holder 14 is appropriately recessed or grooved to receive the arm 28. As shown there is a relatively narrow groove 31 into which the bracket arm 28 fits. In order to permit quick assembly the groove 31 is open at the side. A fastening screw 32 passing through screw holes 33 intersecting the groove 31 is provided for holding the bracket arm 28 within the groove 31 and permitting adjustment of the position of supporting base 25 of the holder 14 with respect to the length of the arm 38. The screw 32, passing through the slot 29 in the arm 38, serves for limiting the inward and outward positions of the drapery former and holder 14.

The lateral bulges 19 have been described for securing the drapery folds within the slots 18. The invention is not limited, however, to this specific arrangement for securing the drapery folds and other means may be employed if desired. For example, the end portions of the fingers 17 may be thickened to permit passage of a curved opening 34 along the inner edge of the web 16 with successive portions of the opening 34 aligned so that a curved, flexible securing pin 35 having a head 36 and a point 37 may be passed through the opening 34 and through the portions of the drapery fold within the slots 18 for securing them. The pin 35 may be composed of any suitable fiexible spring material such as piano wire for example having sufiicient stiffness to be guided from one portion of the opening 34 to the next across the successive slots 18 as the pointed end 37 is pressed inward and pierces layer of drapery fabric.

The drapery fold former and holder 14 may be cast or formed from suitable material such as die casting metal or a fiber impregnated plastic such as a phenolicresin, impregnated fabric or a melamine-aldehyde or other resin mixed with fiber glass or with other fibers.

If preferred, the base 25 may also be so formed as to permit rotational adjustment instead of only longitudinal adjustment. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8 a supporting bracket 38 may be utilized formed with a splined stud 39 and a smooth cylindrical extension 41 mating a cylindrical socket 42 in a base 43 for the drapery fold former and holder 14. The socket in base 43 may be formed with a tapered spline portion 44 to mate the tapered splined stud 39 so that the drapery holder 14 may be mounted at any desired angle with respect to the axis of the spline 39.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein have been shown and particularly described for the purpose of explaining the principle of operation of the invention and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and it is intended, therefor to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the invention.

It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as the invention:

1. In a drapery fixture for holding drapery material in supported folded relation to a frame, the improvement which comprises mating portions including a drapery holder and a supporting bracket, said bracket adapted to be secured to a frame, said drapery holder having a curved arm and a base integral therewith, said base being adapted to fit over said bracket and having means for adjustably mounting and securing said holder on said bracket, said drapery holder arm having a plurality of fingers in a common plane extending in the direction of said base from said arm and forming drapery fold receiving slots, said fingered arm, base and bracket adapted to coact with the frame in assembled relation to permit selective visual introduction of the drapery folds into the fold receiving slots from a position facing the assembly whereby the disposition of the drapery folds can be adjusted visually to provide the desired esthetic effect.

2. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 1 in which the adjustable mounting and securing means includes a slot in said bracket and a screw hole in said base for intersecting relation with said slot, and a set screw adapted to coact between said hole and said slot.

3. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mating portions include, respectively, a splined socket in one portion, and a splined stud adapted to fit into said socket in the other portion, said socket and stud coacting to provide selectivity of angular disposition of one portion with respect to the other portion along the axes of said socket and said stud.

4. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mating portions include, respectively, an elongated narrow groove in one portion, and an elongated mating strip portion adapted to fit into said groove.

5. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 4 wherein said mating strip portion has a central slot and the narrow grooved portion includes a screw hole therein, and a screw adapted to pass through said screw hole and slot for securing said mating portions together.

6. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 1 which includes means for retaining drapery folds in the slots.

7. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 6 wherein the end portions of the fingers each have a lateral bulge partially closing the end of the slot for confining a drapery fold therein.

8. A drapery fixture for holding drapery material in supported folded relation to a frame comprising a drapery holding comb portion including an arm portion adapted to be disposed in overlying relation with respect to said drapery material, a plurality of fingers unidirectionally extending therefrom in a common plane and forming drapery fold receiving slots, and an extending supporting base portion integral with said comb portion at one extremity, said base extending beyond the free extremities of said finger portions and in the same direction as said finger portions, and having at its other free extremity means for securing said fixture to a frame.

9. A drapery fixture in accordance with claim 8 wherein the comb portion is curved and the terminal portions of each successive drapery fold receiving slot adjacent the comb portion forms a curved profile which is substantially the same as the curved profile of said comb portion.

10. A drapery holder as in claim 8 wherein the end portions of the fingers bulge transversely and are formed with aligned openings extending transversely to the slots, and a flexible curved pin is received through the openings of all the said finger end portions for securing drapery folds in such slots.

11. A drapery fixture for holding drapery material in supported folded relation to a frame comprising a drapery holding comb portion including an arm portion adapted to be disposed in overlying relation with respect to said drapery material and a plurality of finger portions unidirectionally extending therefrom in a common plane and fprming drapery fold receiving slots, said fingers having end portions formed with aligned openings extending transversely to the fingers, and a pin received through the openings for securing drapery folds between said fingers, said comb portion also having an extending supporting base portion integral with said comb portion at one extremity thereof and extending beyond the extremity of and in the same direction as said finger portions, said base having at its other free extremity means for securing said fixtures to a frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,435,183 1/48 Pezzella 160348 2,497,446 2/50 Golding et a1. 160-348 2,534,491 12/50 Wersching 160348 2,556,886 6/51 Reese 160348 FOREIGN PATENTS 145,105 5/54 Sweden.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DRAPERY FIXTURE FOR HOLDING DRAPERY MATERIAL IN SUPPORTED FOLDED RELATION TO A FRAME, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES MATING PORTIONS INCLUDING A DRAPERY HOLDER AND A SUPPORTING BRACKET, SAID BRACKET ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A FRAME, SAID DRAPERY HOLDER HAVING A CURVED ARM AND A BASE INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID BASE BEING ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SAID BRACKET AND HAVING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING AND SECURING SAID HOLDER ON SAID BRACKET, SAID DRAPERY HOLDER ARM HAVING A PLURALITY OF FINGERS IN A COMMON PLANE EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID BASE FROM SAID ARM AND FORMING DRAPERY FOLD RECEIVING SLOTS, AND FINGERED ARM, BASE AND BRACKET ADAPTED TO COACT WITH THE FRAME IN ASSEMBLED RELATION TO PERMIT SELECTIVE VISUAL INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAPERY FOLDS INTO THE FOLD RECEIVING SLOTS FROM A POSITION FACING THE ASSEMBLY WHEREBY THE DISPOSITION OF THE DRAPERY FOLDS CAN BE ADJUSTED VISUALLY TO PROVIDE THE DESIRED ESTHETIC EFFECT. 